Praecereus
Praecereus euchlorus
Praecereus is a genus of flowering plants of the cactus family ( Cactaceae ). The botanical name of the genus is derived from the Latin syllable " prae " from before and means for Before the genus Cereus in terms of a phylogenetic precursor.
Description
The bushy tree to similar growing species of the genus Praecereus are sometimes stretched, are mostly free branched and can reach a height of up to 6 meters. The slender, columnar to hanging shoots have 7 or more ribs protruding, round and gray areoles from which spring from needle-like or pfriemliche thorns.
The rugged funnel - to bell-shaped flowers are white to yellowish green and open day. Their strong flower cups and the corolla tube are thick-walled, fleshy and often curved.
The fleshy, short ovoid, along aufreißenden fruits are red with a perennial flowers rest and contain a white pulp. The black seeds are oblong ovate gehöckerten and laterally compressed somewhat.
Systematics and distribution
The genus Praecereus is widespread in the south and west of Brazil, Paraguay, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and northeastern Argentina.
The first description of the genus was made by Franz Buxbaum 1968. The type species of the genus is Cephalocereus smithianus. The genus includes two species:
- Praecereus euchlorus Praecereus euchlorus subsp. euchlorus
- Praecereus euchlorus subsp. amazonicus
- Praecereus euchlorus subsp. diffusus
- Praecereus euchlorus subsp. jaenensis
- Praecereus euchlorus subsp. smithianus